Department of Justice

Violent Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Wednesday, November 1st, U.S. Senior District Judge Robert E. Jones sentenced Raul David Alvarado, 39, of Kelso, Washington, to 25 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. On May 25, 2017, Alvarado was found guilty following a jury trial to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances involving 1 kilogram or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with local authorities revealed that between January 2014 and October 2015, Alvarado, along with Fidel Villafana-Beltran, partnered to source large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin to sell in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon. In June of 2015, agents observed Alvarado entering the Vancouver home of a known drug distributor. After leaving the house with what appeared to be a full backpack, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Alvarado’s vehicle. Rather than stopping, Alvarado eluded at high speeds, cutting through fences, backyards, and side-streets. Along the path of travel, agents found an abandoned backpack containing nearly $15,000, a gun-cleaning kit, and four ounces of pure methamphetamine. Alvarado was arrested on state charges and was subsequently released on conditions. At the time of his arrest on federal charges, agents found firearms, a police scanner, drug paraphernalia, and cash. Even after defendant’s arrest, ATF agents continued searching for the dozens of firearms this investigation linked to Alvarado, and eventually, in January 2016, agents located 45 additional guns ditched in a ravine in Cowlitz County, Washington. Serial numbers on many of these found firearms matched entries on a handwritten list of guns found in the September 2015 search warrant at Alvarado’s residence.

At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors gave examples of defendant’s violent conduct including armed threats to other drug dealers, ramming into a suspected informant’s vehicle, and beating a female co-conspirator in front of other dealers in order to scare them.

“This 25-year sentence will keep a prolific violent offender off the streets for years to come and it protects the community from the dangers he posed,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Drug dealers beware. Federal agents and local law enforcement will not stop until the people who flood our streets with poison are prosecuted and convicted.”

This case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Rainier Police Department, the Clark-Vancouver Drug Task Force and the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad prosecuted the case in federal court.

This case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Rainier Police Department, and the Clark-Vancouver Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad prosecuted the case in federal court.